Clamping device



July 2.8, 1925.

H. s. wARNocK GLAMRING DEVICE Filed Jima 1924 ,a .citizen ot the United States, residing at Patented July 28, 1925.

".UENI'TEDSTATES vPA'lEIWT OFFICE;

lI-IERJRIO'FI WARNOCK, O F CHICAGO, lIIiDINQIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRINTING 'MA- CHINERY COMPANY, Oli CINCNNATI, OHIO, 'CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CLALIPING- DEVICE.

Application 'filed .Tune 7v Twill 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Hiinaio'r'r S. VARNOGK,

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have .invented new and useful Improvements in `Clamping Devices, of which Ithe following isa specification.

This .invention relates broadly to clamping devices and more particularly to an improved clamp specially `'adapted for employment as a printing appliance for supporting and retaining printing plates, forms and the :like in position on a printing press platen, roll or the like.

While my .invention is `illustrated and ldescibed `as employed for retaining a printing plate, it will be understood that this invention may lbe kkadvantageously employed elsewhere and therefore finds a wide field of Y utility forother purposes.

`and claimed in my Patent #1,418,112, and

the present invention is a still furthenimprovement, and `has for its principal objects .and advantages the provision of an improved clamping device characterized by the embodiment therein oiimproved supporting means; the provision of an improved clamping device including supporting means for v the clamp characterized by the absence of moving parts; the provision of an improved ineans for frictionally supporting a clamp;

theprovision of an improved clamp including improved means l'for fixedly supporting and retaining the clamp ina recess; the provision of an improved device oit the character referred to which is characterized by simplicity, compactness and increased utility, due to the absence of numerous moving parts; and the provision ot' a device of the character described, which, when employed for retaining printing plates by insertion in lopenings in a bed plate, automatically enthe invention.

1924. Serial lo. 718,462.

y gages with the bed plate and thus simplifies the attachment and mounting ofthe clamp y in position.

The foregoing and such objects and ad- Yvantages as may appear or be'gpointedout hereinafteivare `attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in `trating an application of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged .fragmentary elevational plan view;

Figures .3 and 4 are vertical sectional views vtaken on the lines 3-3 and 4i-4, :re-

spectively, of Figure 1, looking `in the-direction indicated bythe arrows; f

Figure 5 is a view :similar to Figure 3 illustrating the manner of introducing the device in use; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view ot a part ,of

Referring more .particularly to the drawing, and first to v'Figure 1, I have illus'- trated a bed plate 5, which, of course, ymay take a cylindrical kor curved shape ,where employed on-a printing press roll.

The bed plate 5 `is provided .with a plurality of round openings v6 which `serve as sockets for the reception ot one or more ofV` :the clamping devicesof this invention generallydesignated 7, in Figure l, for clamp` `ingly retaining vvthe electrotype or other printing plate 8 in proper position. The openings 6 are annularly enlarged at their inner or botto-m edges, as at 9-9 to afford shoulders 10-1O for a purpose which will presently appear. lt will also-appear that, where convenient, the annularshoulders 10 may be omitted.

The clamping or holding device of vthis invention generally includes a substantially U-shaped frame F foi-:engagement in one of trie openings in the -bed plate, and a' clamping jaw C variably mounted in said frame.

Referring new in detail to Figures 2 to 6, the frame F includes a base portion 11, and integral substantiallyparallel spaced side walls 12h12, said walls being substantially normal to the base portion 11.

As will best be observed from an `inspection -oi' any of Figures 3, 4, or 5, both of the walls 12 have :their outer side vedges '13*14 relatively converging toward the base v11,

vso that the trame is thereby given a gen` erally tapered configuration as viewed in, say, Figures 3 and 5. The Width of the Walls 12 at their outer ends is such that the outer longitudinal corners --15 will, near the outer corners 15a, contact With the Wall of v the openings 6 when the device is inserted,

Y openings. provided guiding slots 21-21 in the Walls as indicated at 16-16, F igs. 2 and 3. This Contact is quite snug as Will later appear more particularly. The edges 14 are substantially perpendicular to the base 11, the edge 13 being inclined.

The base 11 is extended to form a locking member or lug 17, Which is of a length and curvature which permits insertion of the device freely into .the opening 6 to. a predetermined point, the curved edge 17a of the lug 17 being at such a distance from the inner opposite corners 13 of the Walls and base as to just permit insertion of the device canted as shown in Figure 5.

TheI side Walls 12 of the frame F are provided With aligned openings 1.9-19, and a transverse pin 20 is secured iiXedly in said Beyond the openings there are 12, said slots being complemental to each other and angularly disposed relative the edges 13 and 14 of the Walls 12, and extending from points adjacent to the edges 13 and 14 inwardly toward the inclined edge of said Walls.

The clamping device is in its entirety contained Within the frame F, with the exception of the jaw C hereinbefore referred to,

and this clamping mechanism includes a 7 tegrally formed upon the outer end of the yoke 22.

Journaled upon the pin 20 between the ears 23, there is the eye member 24, which latter is provided With a radial extension 2.5 having a bearing socket 26, y

The actuating member threaded `shank 27, having a. reduced axial portion 28 which revolubly seats in the socket 26, the outer end of the shank having a cylindrical portion 29 which revolubly seats in the bearing socket 30 formed beneath the jaw, and said socket having a reduced bore 31. The cylindrical portion 29 is provided with a polygonal recess 32 and a tool for rotating the shank 27 may be inserted through the bore 31 into recess 32.

The tool thus engaging the shank is advantageous in that it simplifies the construction and manufacture and facilitates engagement of the tool with the clamp actuating device.

`A cross head 33 is in threaded engagecomprises a i ment with the shank 27, said cross-head having trunnions 34 complemental to and receivable in the guide slots 21, so that when the shank 27 is rotated the cross head is reciprocated and thereby displaces the trunnions 34 in the slots 21 and this motion is imparted to the yoke and jaw to angularly displace same about the transverse pin 2O as an axis.`

The jaw C is undercut as at 35 to form a beveled portion which engages With a complemental surface 36 on the edges of the printing plate 8 or other object to be held, said jaw C being relatively Wide as shown in Figure 2 so as to afford a Wide area of contact with the plate or other object.

When the device 7 is inserted into the opening 6 it is first placedy as shown in Figure 5. Pressure applied to the outer end of the device forces it downwardly into theV opening and when the lug 17 reaches the shoulder 10, said lug snaps under said shoulder and retains the device in the position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

The dimensions `of the frame F, lug 17, and the openings 6 are such that simultaneously With the engagement of thelug 17, With the shoulder 10, the corners 15-15 of the edges 13 and 14 of the Walls 12 abut the Wall of the opening 6 asjseen bestV in Figures 2 and 3; and the upper corners 15a similarly abut theV Wall of the opening `6, so that the device is snugly and rmly suspended in the opening. The lug 17 prevents displacement in one direction, and the snug engagement of the VWalls 12with the opening 6 and the engagementof the jaw C with the Work prevents the device from passing entirely through the opening 6.

It will be obvious that Where projection of the lug 17 beyond the inner face. of' the plate 8 is not objectionable, the shoulder 10 may be omitted. i i

The base 11 may be provided With ,an opening 112L Which facilitates assembly of the parts and` permits free swinging of the eye-24 and associated parts during adjust ment. i y

From the foregoing it Will be observed that in the device of the present invention the only moving parts are those of the. clamp and actuating mechanism and that no moving parts actuated by'eitherl the clamp or otherwise are requiredfor `supporting or retaining the device in operative position, .the supporting andretention of the device being accomplished solely by relatively fiXed members, thus producing a Wedge like or frictional engagement of the device with the opening.

This mounting of the device has the added advantage of permitting mounting of the device with its jaw presented in any desired direction, and eliminates notches, grooves or other keyvvays in the opening 6 for holding CFI Cil

purposes, thus simplifying the-.construction I claim: 1. The combination -with al supporting member having a recess or opening therein,

of a frame, a clamp'onsaid frame, andl means on `said frame for frictionally engaging the wall of saidy opening.

2. lThe combination with a printing foundationhaving a recess, of a clamp' for retaining"printing forms on said foundation receivable into said recess and adapted to be frictiona'lly v'engaged With'the wall of said recess.

3. The rcombination with' al printing foundation having a recess, of a clamp for retaining printing` forms on said foundation receivable into said recess and provided with integral means for ffrictionally engaging the wall of said recess.

il?. The combination with a supporting member provided with a recess having an offset shoulder, of a clamp including supporting frame having` frictional engagement with the wall of the recess and fixed means positively engaging said shoulder.

5. rIhe combination with a printing foundation having a recess, yof 'a clamp for retaining printing forms on said foundation receivable into said recess and having a wedge like engagement with a part of the recess and positive engagement with another part of the recess.

6. In a device of the character described, incombination, a clamp, a supporting frame therefor including` parallel spaced walls and an end wall having an extending lug, and the longitudinal edges of said parallel walls converging toward said end wall.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a bed plate having a recess therein, and a shoulder of a clamping member including' a frame adapted to be .inserted into said recess and to engage with the recess at a plurality of points, and-a relatively fixed locking member on said frame adapted to engage said shoulder.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a supporting frame substantially rectangular and provided with a fixed locking member, said frame being adapted, when inserted in an opening, to abut against the wall of the opening and said locking member engaging an edge of the opening.

9. In a device of the character described,

in combination, supp'crtin'g'frame substantially rectangular and provid'edwith a fixed locking member, said frame being adapted, when inserted in an opening, 'to wedge against the wall of said opening andto lixegdly engage with oneedge of the opening. l0.y The combination with a base yplate provided with an opening, of'a supporting frame for a clampv or the like, of dimensions permitting said frame to be freely inserted int-o saidy opening to predetermined point and then adapted to wedge iny said opening andv simultaneously engage positively with a part of the wall ofsaid opening.

11. rIhe combination. with a base. plate provided with an openingof a supporting frame for a clamp or the like of dimensions permitting said frame to-,be freely inserted into said opening to a predetermined point and. then adapted to wedge in said opening andmeans on said frame for fixed positive 'engagement with vthe wallr of said opening.

12. :The combination with a V base plate provided with anopening, of` a supporting frame for a clamp or thelike `of dimensions permitting said frameto be freely inserted yinto said opening to a predetermined point` and `then adapted to wedgein said; opening and meansY fixedly mounted on said frame and adapted to positively engage a part of the Wall of said opening.

13. The combination with a base plate provided with an opening, of a supporting frame for a clamp or the like of dimensions permitting said framer to be freely inserted into said opening to a predetermined point and then adapted to wedge in said opening, and means integral with said frame and adapted to positively engage a part of the wall of said opening.

14. The combination with a base plate provided with an opening, of a supporting fra-me, of dimensions permitting same to be freely inserted into said opening to a predetermined point whereupon the frame wedges into the opening, and a fixed extension on said frame for positive engagement with said base plate.

15. In a device of the characterdescribed, in combination, a supporting frame including a base and parallel side walls substantially normal to said base, said side Walls having their longitudinal edges converging .toward said base, and a clamp mounted between said side walls.

16. In a device of the character described, in combination, a supporting frame including a base and parallel side walls substantially normal to said base, said frame being of substantially tapering form, and a clamp adjustably mounted upon said frame.

17. In a device of the character described, in combination, a substantially U-shaped frame, and a clamping member supported by said frame on the side walls thereof.

18. In a device ofthe character described', in combination, a substantially U-shaped tapering frame, and a clamping member sup ported by said -frame on the side Walls thereof.

19. In combination, a bed plate having an opening therein, a frame of substantially tapering configuration adapted to Wedge into said opening, and a clamping device carriedv by'said frame.

20. In combination, a' bed plate having an opening therein, a frame of substantially tapering U-shaped configuration adapted to Wedge into said opening, and a clamping device carried by said frame.

21. In' combination, a bed plate having an opening therein, a frame of substantially tapering coniiguration adapted toY Wedge into said opening, means onsaid' frame for positive engagement "with said bed plate and a clampingdevice carried by said frame.

22. In a device of the character described, in combination, a Supporting frame including a base and parallelside Walls substantially normal to said base, anda` clamping device mounted pivotally between saidv Walls and provided with means for engagement with the Wall for. a-ngularly displacing said clamp.

25. In. a device of the character described, in combination, a supporting frame `includ` ing a base and parallel sidewalls substantially normal to said. base, and@ a clamping device mounted pivotally between said Walls and provided with means `for engagement with the Wall for angularly and` longitudinally displacing said clamp.

2i.` In combination, a bed substantially,cylindrical opening therein, a polygonal supporting trame adapted for in.-

plate `having Y sertion intosaid opening and forwedging engagement with the Wall there, and a clamp carried by said frame.

`25. In combination, a bed plateA having a substantially cylindrical opening therein, a

polygonal supporting frame adapted for in- 

